Two people suffered burns Sunday afternoon following an explosion in an Harrison Township apartment complex during an alleged botched attempt to extract hash oil from marijuana, according to fire investigators.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents are working with the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office and township fire investigators on the blast that took place about 3:30 p.m. at the Beachwood Apartments and Townhomes on the 38400 block of Metro Villa Drive near Metropolitan Parkway and Northpointe.

Authorities said evidence of drug paraphernalia, butane tanks, marijuana and hash were found at the scene.

“We’re dealing with some unusual circumstances,” said Harrison Township fire Lt. Kevin Seehase. “We’re pretty sure they had some sort of drug lab going on there.”

Advertisement

Firefighters responding to a 911 call of an explosion found the blast had knocked the two-story building off its foundation and sent glass flying and pushed the walls outward.

Fire Chief Michael Lopez said investigators had to wait for a technical response crew to arrive to shore up the foundation before they could go inside as the structure had been deemed unsafe.

Neighbors said Ryan Cameron, 19, who lives in the unit where the blast took place, told them he was cooking noodles on an electric stove and a fire broke out followed by an explosion. He was thrown from the kitchen to the front room and suffered burns to his back, chest and arm.

At least three other people were inside at the time including Kyle Belanger, 18, who had burns to his face and hands.

Both men were initially taken to McLaren Macomb hospital in Mount Clemens for treatment. They were later transferred to the burn unit at Detroit Receiving Hospital.

Belanger, who spoke to a reporter before the alleged drug evidence was discovered, said he was sitting at the kitchen table when the incident occurred.

“I saw flames coming out of the stove and I ducked my head behind the table, then I heard a boom,” Belanger said before receiving medical care. “The next thing I know, everybody is running out the door.”

Neighbor Chris Igo, who lives next to Cameron, was watching television when he heard the explosion. He talked with Cameron before the victim was taken to the hospital. “He said he just went to cook some noodles and walked out of the kitchen for a minute. That’s when he was blown into the living room,” Igo said.

Fire officials initially suspected a gas leak but found a number of conflicting statements from the parties involved. Because of the drugs and equipment found inside, they called the DEA.

They believe the men were trying to make what’s known as “hash oil.” The process involves mixing butane and dried marijuana and cooking the mixture on a stove to extract the oil. The oil is made into a liquid which then can be placed into soda pop or other liquids to get high.

Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said he could not comment on the suspicions, but said the investigation is just getting under way. “We have a lot of work to do on this one,” he said.

The damage to the building left about one dozen families temporarily homeless.

There are six units on each side of the building. All of the residents were ordered out and likely won’t be allowed back in for some time.

The American Red Cross was on the scene Sunday evening working on temporary living arrangements.

Harrison Township fire crews were assisted by firefighters from Chesterfield Township, Mount Clemens, St. Clair Shores and Selfridge Air National Guard Base.